Scottish Executive

Access for Disabled People

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that architectural students at Scottish further and higher education institutions receive formal and mandatory training in meeting the needs of disabled people through the social model of disability and what representations it has made, and to whom, on this matter.

Mike Watson: Regulation of the profession of architect is a reserved matter and the Executive has no jurisdiction over the content of academic courses in architecture. The validation of course content is the joint responsibility of the Architects Registration Board and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Agriculture

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation it has made of any lessons to be learned in Scotland from the report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food.

Ross Finnie: Officials have studied the Policy Commission report in detail and have noted that there is considerable overlap between what we are already doing in Scotland and what the Policy Commission recommends for England. There do not appear to be any material lessons to be learned in Scotland from the report.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities currently have an anti-social tenant policy in place and which have a dedicated officer who liaises with all necessary agencies regarding such tenants.

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities currently have a support programme for the victims of anti-social behaviour and which have members of staff dedicated to that programme.

Iain Gray: This information is not held centrally but the Sociable Neighbourhood National Co-ordinator appointed by COSLA, with funding from the Scottish Executive, is currently undertaking an audit of anti-social policy and practice in Scottish local authorities.

Architecture

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is one minister responsible for policy on architecture and, if so, which minister that is.

Mike Watson: I have overall portfolio responsibility for architecture. My deputy, Dr Elaine Murray has direct ministerial responsibility for policy on architecture.

Birds

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the European Commission has set any targets for the completion of areas as Special Protection Areas and what the terms of any such targets are in respect of the (a) (i) number and (ii) area of designation and (b) timescale.

Allan Wilson: The EC Birds Directive requires member states to classify the most suitable territories in number and size as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the conservation of bird species identified as being particularly vulnerable.

  Since 1979, when the directive came into force, the UK has identified over 255 sites for designation as SPAs, of which 141 are Scottish. One hundred and thirty-five Scottish sites have already been classified. The UK Government is under pressure from the European Commission to meets its obligations to classify sites under the directive but the Commission has not set formal targets in relation to the number, area of designation or timescale.

Birds

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the areas currently under consideration for designation as Special Protection Areas and on what dates it is planned that decisions will be made on each designation proposal.

Allan Wilson: The sites currently under consideration for classification as Special Protection Area’s (SPA) are:

  Arran Moors

  Cnuic Agus Cladach Mhuile (Mull eagle site)

  Cuillins (Skye eagle site)

  Glen App – Galloway Moors

  Ladder Hills

  Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands

  These sites are all listed as potential SPAs in Annex D to the revised version of the Scottish Office Circular 6/1995 published in June 2000. In addition, an extension is proposed to the Forth Islands site.

  A decision on whether to classify any particular site as a Special Protection Area is only taken once all relevant documentation has been given full ministerial consideration. A key component of this documentation is the site consultation report, which is prepared by Scottish Natural Heritage on behalf of Scottish ministers. It is not possible to say precisely when any particular report will be received.

Caledonian MacBrayne

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the letter to me from the Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning dated 14th February 2002, which ministers' remits cover issues concerning ferry services operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.

Lewis Macdonald: Wendy Alexander, Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning has cabinet level responsibility for all transport matters.

Cancer

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will re-evaluate its breast cancer awareness publicity in the light of research published in the British Journal of Cancer on 13 February 2002 suggesting that women are more susceptible to breast cancer if they have their first child later in life or if they commence menstruation at an early age.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is an important study which adds to the breast cancer research and evidence base.

  On its own, however, it does not warrant a change in the advice given to women of all ages that they should be breast aware and ensure that if they notice any changes of concern to them they should seek medical advice as early as possible.

Cancer

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to respond to research on breast cancer published in the British Journal of Cancer  on 13 February 2002.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23166 today.

  I would also add that the Health Department’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is responsible for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within NHSScotland and, as such, is the main departmental funder of NHS-related research.

  CSO is currently funding 11 research projects with a total value of £1,261,450 on breast cancer, five of which, with a total value of £499,377, are into the causes of breast cancer.

  Details of these projects are available from the National Research Register, a copy of which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

  Cancer remains a health research priority and as such the CSO would be happy to consider further research proposals into this matter or related areas.

Cancer

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether materials used in its breast cancer awareness campaign draw attention to the increased risks of susceptibility reported in the British Journal of Cancer on 13 February 2002.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23166 today.

  I would add that health promotion is the responsibility of NHS boards, who would be happy to provide information about local activities and campaigns. Contact information for NHS Board Chief Executives is available from Scottish Health on the Web at:

  www.show.scot.nhs.uk

  Similarly, the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) is responsible for matters relating to health education. Contact details for the Chief Executive and wider information on the board’s activities is available from the HEBS website at:

  www.show.scot.nhs.uk/hebs.

Cancer

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of materials used in its breast cancer awareness campaign.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23168 today, specifically as it refers to health promotion and health education activities within NHSScotland and the responsibilities of NHS and Health Education Board for Scotland.

Cancer

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive against what measures it assesses the effectiveness of materials used in its breast cancer awareness campaign.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-23168 and S1W-23169 today.

Children's Hearings

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22695 by Cathy Jamieson on 18 February 2002, how many cases have been brought back to Children’s Hearings Panels for review in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: Detailed information on review hearings is an operational matter for the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.

  Supervision requirements must be reviewed by children’s hearings no later than one year after they have been made. An earlier review may be called at any time by a children’s hearing or by the relevant local authority if the circumstances of the child require it.

Contraception

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into (a) the short-term and (b) the long-term safety implications of the emergency contraceptive Levonelle.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what clinical trials were conducted to ensure that the emergency contraceptive Levonelle is safe.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is the UK-wide medicines regulatory authority responsible for ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines available on the UK market.

  The MCA has advised that the decision to grant a marketing authorisation in the UK for a product containing levonorgestrel 0.75 mg (emergency hormonal contraceptive) followed advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) who were satisfied as to the product’s safety, quality and efficacy. The evidence considered by the CSM included two World Health Organisation sponsored pivotal studies. One study involving approximately 2,000 women in 14 countries including the UK, has been published in the Lancet (1998). The other, published in Human Reproduction (1993), involved 880 women. Other supporting data not in the public domain are confidential to the application.

  Evidence of safety was also taken into account when the CSM considered the proposal for levonorgestrel 0.75 mg to be available without a prescription. A note of the CSM meeting of 23 March 2000 is available on their website:

  www.mca.gov.uk/aboutagency/regframework/csm/csmhome.htm.

  The Yellow Card Scheme underpins drug safety monitoring in the UK. Under the scheme, doctors, pharmacists, dentists and coroners are encouraged to report any suspected adverse drug reactions to the CSM and the MCA, jointly responsible for running the scheme.

Contraception

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to monitor repeated use of the emergency contraceptive Levonelle.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is not possible to monitor repeated use of Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) from data available centrally. EHC may be sold under the supervision of a pharmacist to women aged 16 and over without a prescription. Data on medicines purchased privately through community pharmacies without a prescription is not collected centrally.

  EHC remains available free of charge on NHS prescription. Data collected centrally on prescribed items dispensed in the community is not patient-specific.

  In all their actions, health professionals will have regard to issues of patient confidentiality.

Contraception

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has been done on the availability of emergency hormonal contraception.

Malcolm Chisholm: No evaluation has been undertaken by the Scottish Executive on the availability of emergency hormonal contraception.

Contraception

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools are currently dispensing the Levonelle morning-after pill for emergency hormonal contraception, broken down by education authority.

Malcolm Chisholm: None.

Contraception

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teenage pregnancies there were in each of the past five years, broken down by health and NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: All published health statistics, including those for teenage pregnancies broken down by health board, are available on the SHOW website at:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/publications/publications.htm.

  The Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency, which gathers and publishes annual teenage pregnancy statistics, must rely on returns from hospitals. Because of delays in returns from some hospitals, the last year for which full figures are available is 1999.

Contraception

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why there is a payment of £20 for the Levonelle morning-after pill when purchased from a pharmacist, when the pill is free from general practitioner surgeries, Brook Advisory Service and other family planning clinics.

Malcolm Chisholm: The retail price levied for Levonelle when purchased privately from a community pharmacy is a commercial decision, determined by the manufacturer and is not a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Contraception

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the availability of emergency hormonal contraception has had on the number of teenage pregnancies.

Malcolm Chisholm: Many factors affect teenage pregnancy. It is not possible easily to isolate any effect the availability of emergency contraception may have had.

Deaf People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the needs of deaf people in regard to securing equal and fair access to NHS services.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: A Good Practice Guide to support the implementation of section 21 of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), which requires that people with disabilities are given reasonable access to goods and services, was issued to NHSScotland in September 1999.

  The guide was compiled in consultation with Scottish disability groups and includes advice on the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people.

Deaf People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in securing access for deaf people to NHS 24 via a textphone facility.

Malcolm Chisholm: When NHS 24 is launched in the Grampian area in late spring, the service will offer nurse consultation and health information services to deaf, deafblind, deafened, hard of hearing, and speech impaired people through the Typetalk service. NHS 24 will be running a comprehensive public awareness campaign to inform people about the new service and how this can be accessed.

  Typetalk is a new service established just over a year ago and managed by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf in partnership with BT.

Deaf People

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received, or assessment it has made, of the likely utility of a Typetalk relay service in allowing deaf people to access NHS 24.

Malcolm Chisholm: Typetalk is a service run by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf in partnership with BT. It is the only national telephone service which enables deaf, deafblind, deafened, hard of hearing, and speech impaired people to communicate with hearing people anywhere in the world.

  The Typetalk service will allow easy access for deaf and hearing impaired individuals to the nurse consultation and health information services and will be accessed via NHS 24’s national telephone number. NHS 24 will promote these services in line with the regional roll out plan.

  NHS 24 will work closely with all communities who will benefit from the services, including the deaf community, and will involve them in the on-going monitoring and continuous improvement of its services. This will include an assessment of the suitability and appropriateness of the Typetalk service.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are being made to improve diabetes education and information facilities in order to raise public awareness.

Malcolm Chisholm: Raising awareness of the causes and consequence of diabetes and improving the quality and availability of patient information about diabetes, are key strands of the Scottish Diabetes Framework. Specific plans in these areas will be developed by the Scottish Diabetes Group over the coming months.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce special measures to assist ethnic groups, parents with young children and carers to cope with diabetes.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Diabetes Framework seeks to raise standards of care and support for all people with diabetes. Ethnic minority groups, parents with young children and carers are all recognised as groups with particular needs, in terms of coping with diabetes.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what new measures will be introduced to assist those people with diabetes who are becoming visually impaired or blind.

Malcolm Chisholm: The priority of the Scottish Executive is to prevent people with diabetes from losing their sight. Eye care is therefore identified as one of the first stage priorities in the Scottish Diabetes Framework, due to be published shortly.

Diabetes

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what public information is currently available, or will be made available, on those NHS boards who do not achieve best standards with respect to diabetes management in accordance with Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines and Clinical Standards Boards for Scotland standards.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland will undertake the process of external peer review of its diabetes standards during 2003. It will then publish a report on each visit, including a detailed assessment of performance against each standard, at the same time as it publishes a national report giving an overview of performance across Scotland against all the standards.

  Further information is to be found in the Scottish Diabetes Survey, an annual snapshot of diabetes care based on local diabetes registers. The results of the 2001 survey were published in November 2001. The report of the 2002 survey should be published before the end of the year.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to involve private companies or private finance in assisting those who are temporarily or permanently excluded from school.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive currently has no plans at a national level to engage the private sector in assisting pupils excluded from school.

Education

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what role Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education played in each Scottish Executive Education Department conference in 2001 and what expert advice it provided to each conference.

Cathy Jamieson: In 2001, HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) attended three conferences on National Priorities in Education, which were organised by Scottish Executive Education Department’s New Educational Development Division. At the most recent conference HMIE provided advice about how to measure progress against national priorities, in particular how to use the new edition of How good is our school? for this purpose.

Enterprise

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government in regard to the establishment of an enterprise zone for Glasgow.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government in regard to the establishment of an enterprise zone on land near or adjacent to the M74 northern extension.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive has no plans for the establishment of further Enterprise Zones.

Enterprise

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary question to question S1O-4696 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 14 February 2002, when the tender for a feasibility study on establishing a national centre for women's enterprise will be awarded; what key issues the study will consider, and when the study's findings will be published.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The tender for a feasibility study on establishing a national centre for women's enterprise was awarded to the Paisley Enterprise Research Centre, University of Paisley, on 22 February. The study will provide an assessment of the need for a women’s enterprise centre in Scotland and the role it could best perform. The study is expected to be concluded by end May 2002.

European Commission

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-19339 and S1W-19397 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 26 November 2001 and 11 January 2002, what specific (a) discussions it has had with or (b) representations it has made to (i) Her Majesty's Government and (ii) the European Commission about the impact of the latter’s Physical Agents directives on the agriculture and transport sectors.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has no function in relation to the health and safety implications of the European Commission’s proposed Physical Agents directives.

  The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including health and safety.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it has made in fish farming since May 1999 in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 and whether it will give a breakdown of how the investment was spent in each case.

Allan Wilson: The Executive routinely makes direct investment in aquaculture through research and development work, in support of its statutory responsibilities for disease control and improving understanding of impacts on the marine environment; and through FIFG Structural Funds, where the priorities of the aquaculture scheme remain the efficient and hygienic production of quality fish and shellfish. In recent years, there has also been exceptional expenditure through the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) Re-Start Scheme, to facilitate the sustainability of employment and business activity in fish and shellfish farming businesses in the Highlands and Islands, which had been adversely affected by ISA, as well as the payment of formation grant to a producer organisation.

  This is detailed in the following table:

  


Item 
  

1999-2000
(£ million) 
  

2000-01
(£ million) 
  

2001-02
(£ million) 
  



Research and development - costs incurred 
  

1.4 
  

1.1 
  

1.3 
  



FIFG Structural Funds - awards approved in aquaculture 
  scheme 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

2.1 
  



Formation grant to Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation 
  

N/A 
  

0.1 
  

N/A 
  



Highlands & Islands Enterprise ISA Re-Start Scheme 
  - funds approved 
  

N/A 
  

3.0 
  

0.8 
  



Totals 
  

1.4 
  

4.2 
  

4.2 
  



  For both FIFG and the ISA Re-Start Scheme, although awards may be approved in a particular financial year, funds may not necessarily be drawn down by the recipient in that same year.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it (a) has taken and (b) plans to take in order to promote the fish farming industry.

Allan Wilson: The Executive's aim is to secure a sustainable and competitive future for the aquaculture industry in Scotland, as one of our most important rural employers. We will achieve this through a partnership with all the relevant stakeholders, working together to balance their social, economic and environmental aspirations.

  We are currently consulting on a strategic framework which will shape the development of the industry for the medium-term. This will build on recent work, through the Tripartite Working Group, to maintain a healthy stock of wild fish; through the Aquaculture Health Joint Working Group, to prevent disease and improve fish health; and to streamline and improve the regulation of the industry.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22280 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, why it did not detail its reasons behind its decision not to centrally collate information on students failing to complete their courses and whether it will provide a full explanation of the reasons behind the use of a different process for collating such information for further education institutions.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-22975 and S1W-22976 on 11 March 2002.

  Information on student completion rates has been centrally collated and previously published in the Secretary of State for Scotland's Annual Reports, Further Education in Scotland 1997 and 1998.

  The Scottish Further Education Funding Council has not yet completed work on the development of a framework of new performance indicators for the further education sector, nor decided exactly how the data will be collated.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it treats further and higher education institutions as autonomous bodies given that it funds them.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Further and higher education institutions are constituted as independent, autonomous bodies, and are consequently treated as such by the Scottish Executive. The Executive does not consider autonomy to be a barrier to public funding, which, for example, in the case of Edinburgh University accounts for only around 50% of income.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the autonomous position of further and higher education institutions, detailing the reasons for its position on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to review the autonomous status of further and higher education institutions. Ministers have indicated that they do not wish to pre-empt the findings of the Inquiry into Lifelong Learning which is being conducted by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each further and higher educational institution (a) received from it in grants and (b) allocated to student welfare services, giving (i) the actual sum and (ii) the allocation as a percentage of total grant monies received by each institution, all in each of the last three years.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-21385 and S1W-21393 on 18 January 2002.

Further and Higher Education Funding Councils

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22274 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2002, why it is appropriate that the decision on how funds should be disbursed to institutions is one for the Scottish Higher and Further Education Funding Councils alone.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 provides that the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council shall be responsible for administering funds made available to it by the Scottish ministers and others for the purposes of providing financial support for activities eligible for funding. Ministers are expressly prevented by the act from framing conditions of grant by reference to particular institutions, programmes of study, selection of staff or admission and selection of students. The Executive is currently conducting a review of higher education during which individuals and organisations are at liberty to propose changes to these arrangements.

  The Scottish Further Education Funding Council (Establishment) (Scotland) Order 1998 delegates to that council the former Secretary of State function of making public funding available to further education colleges.

  As a result of these arrangements, ministers set broad policy priorities through the medium of guidance to the councils, but do not prescribe sums of money for individual institutions.

General Practitioners

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in order to protect general practitioners and their support staff from violent or aggressive patients visiting their surgeries.

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in order to protect general practitioners from violent or aggressive patients when making home visits.

Malcolm Chisholm: Island NHS Boards and Primary Care Trusts have the power to assign violent patients to the doctor who has the most appropriate facilities. In addition, we issued a circular to boards and trusts on 17 December 2001 on addressing the problem of violent or aggressive behaviour by patients in general practice.

  The circular requested boards and trusts to put in place local action plans for combating violence by 30 June 2002. It also provided advice on what action plans might contain, including mechanisms for providing services to violent patients and support for general practitioners undertaking home visits or surgery consultations where there is reason to believe there is a risk of violence.

General Practitioners

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultation carried out by Highland NHS Board over the appointment of a general practitioner in Helmsdale was adequate.

Malcolm Chisholm: The procedure for the appointment of general practitioners is set out in the NHS (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. The only statutory consultation which an Island NHS Board or Primary Care Trust is required to undertake is with the Area Medical Committee before a report is made to the Scottish Medical Practices Committee on the need to fill a vacancy. In the case of Helmsdale, Highland Primary Care Trust carried out that task. The nature of any informal consultation which the trust may have also carried out with local interests is a matter for the trust.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients in all NHS board areas will have access to all drugs and treatments for Alzheimer's disease as recommended in the Health Technology Board for Scotland's Comment 1, Comment on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence Technology Appraisal Guidance on the use of donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease .

Malcolm Chisholm: NHSScotland should take account of advice and evidence from the Health Technology Board for Scotland and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need. Likewise, individual clinicians should take account of evidence-based guidance when exercising their clinical judgement.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-12041 by Susan Deacon on 4 January 2001, how many community nurses, midwives and health visitors have to date received a mobile phone hands-free set and accompanying software under the initiative announced by the Scottish Office on 22 March 1999.

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12042 by Susan Deacon on 4 January 2001, when any community nurses, midwives and health visitors who have not yet received a mobile phone hands-free set and accompanying software under the initiative announced by the Scottish Office on 22 March 1999 will receive them.

Malcolm Chisholm: This initiative did not specify the provision of a hands-free mobile set. The numbers of phones issued was given in my answer to question S1W-12041 on 4 January 2002.

Health

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21931 by Malcolm Chisholm on 30 January 2002, whether it plans to give Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and its Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department representation on the Pharmaceutical Liaison Group.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has no plans to extend representation on the Pharmaceutical Liaison Group to include the organisations mentioned in the question.

Health Technology Board for Scotland

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce statutory obligations for the NHS in Scotland in respect of guidance issued by the Health Technology Board for Scotland following the recently announced introduction of such obligations for the NHS in England in respect of guidance issued by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to fully fund recommendations from the Health Technology Board for Scotland in respect of drug prescribing.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHSScotland should take account of advice and evidence from the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need. The Executive will monitor NHS boards' adherence to HTBS advice and will follow up any non-adherence.

Hedges

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have in respect of dealing with invasive plant species and whether such species include leylandii.

Allan Wilson: The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 provides local authorities with powers to take action in circumstances where the amenity of an area is affected by the presence of invasive plants such as, for example, Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed. In natural heritage terms, leylandii (leyland cypress) is not regarded as posing a significant threat to the countryside.

  The problems associated with leylandii and other high trees and hedges, when grown in gardens are, however, generally well recognised. Local authorities are required, under powers derived from the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to investigate complaints about a statutory nuisance occurring on premises, including land. It is a matter for local authorities, in considering individual cases, to determine whether a particular high tree or hedge constitutes a statutory nuisance, and to decide what action should be taken.

  I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-12936 on 31 January 2001 about the problems caused by high hedges in Scotland, in which the Deputy First Minister announced that the Executive had decided in principle that a statutory remedy of last resort was needed, involving complaints to the local authority and enforcement action in appropriate cases. However, it was not possible to give a commitment as to when legislation would be brought forward.

Higher Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21774 by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 January 2002, whether the Scottish University for Industry has considered creating a Technology Transfer Office.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) is a broker and facilitator of learning between individuals, learning providers and companies and has no direct role in delivering learning itself. SUfI is not a primary holder of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). We therefore do not believe that the concept of technology transfer applies, nor does SUfI have any role in, or capacity to, undertake research and development functions relating to the application of IPR.

Higher Education

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21774 by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 January 2002, what progress is being made with the establishment of the NHS Technology Transfer Office.

Malcolm Chisholm: We are making good progress in our discussions with both NHS trusts and Scottish Enterprise and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the near future.

Individual Learning Accounts

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21664 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 24 January 2002, what the likely timescale is now for the relaunch of the Individual Learning Account Scheme.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I am keen to make progress in developing a new scheme to encourage the widest possible participation in lifelong learning, but in doing so I want to take the best from the first Individual Learning Account (ILA) scheme while addressing the concerns that have been raised. While it would be premature to give any indication of when any successor to ILAs will be introduced, I expect to be able to say more about these plans later in the year.

Judicial Appointments

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22796 by Mr Jim Wallace on 20 February 2002, whether persons applying for appointment to the Judicial Appointments Board will be required to disclose membership of Freemasonry and any other secret society.

Mr Jim Wallace: The recruitment exercise for membership of the Judicial Appointments Board has already taken place and candidates were not asked to disclose membership of Freemasonry or any other secret society. Applicants were asked to disclose any possible conflict of interest which might arise if they were appointed, whether personally, in relation to their employment, or in relation to their connections with any organisations. No candidate declared a potential conflict of interest.

Jury Duty

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21993 by Mr Jim Wallace on 20 January 2002, whether it will discuss with Her Majesty’s Government the different practices which currently exist between the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament in regard to the exemption of officials from jury duty.

Mr Jim Wallace: The statutory right of excusal from jury duty is not a reserved matter and the Scottish Parliament could vary the categories to which the right of excusal extends, if it wished to do so. As indicated in the answer I gave to question S1W-21993 on 20 January 2002, we have no plans to introduce legislation for that purpose at present.

  It is worth noting that the report by Lord Justice Auld, following his review of the criminal courts in England and Wales, recommended that, except for those who have recently undertaken or have been excused by the court from jury service, no-one in England and Wales should be excusable from jury service as of right, only on showing good reason for excusal.

Knowledge Economy

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what emphasis it places on the perspective of the consumer when formulating and developing policies and strategies for the knowledge economy.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Delivery of customer focused services which are built around the needs and views of Scotland's citizens is at the heart of the Executive’s agenda. A key message from the Scottish Executive Report on the Cross-cutting Issue of the Knowledge Economy is that the knowledge economy affects everyone, not just those in high-tech companies.

Local Government Act 1988

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider repealing sections of Part II of the Local Government Act 1988 that prohibit non-commercial matters, such as employees' terms and conditions, from being taken into account by public authorities when entering into contracts for the delivery of goods and services and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive plans to use the forthcoming Scottish Local Government Bill to amend those parts of the Local Government Act 1988 that are currently preventing Scottish local authorities from delivering fully on their commitment to fair employment and Best Value. This change is being made in response to a recommendation of the Best Value Task Force.

Local Government Act 1988

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider repealing sections of Part II of the Local Government Act 1988 with regard to the ability of local authorities to carry out new build construction work on behalf of others and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to amend the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970 to allow Scottish local authorities to engage in new-build construction work. However, this issue was raised in the recent consultation on the Scottish Local Government Bill. The Executive will take time to consider the views of those who responded on this issue.

Local Government Act 1988

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review restrictions on the political activities of local authority employees and what the timescale is for implementing any such plans.

Peter Peacock: We consulted on the issue of political restrictions in the Green Paper on local government, published in November 2000. Specific proposals on political restrictions will be included in the Local Government Consultative Document due to be published before the Easter Recess.

Marine Environment

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) it and (b) each of its regulatory bodies will have spent in total on regulation of the aquaculture industry in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01 and (iii) 2001-02.

Allan Wilson: Actual expenditure by the Scottish Executive on the regulation of the aquaculture industry is not available, but is estimated to be about £2 million in each of these years.

  Details of expenditure on aquaculture regulation by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency are not held centrally.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards protecting the "Darwin Mounds" and other areas of deep-sea coral off Scotland from damage by fishing activity and whether, following recent research published by the Royal Society, it will ask Her Majesty’s Government to designate urgently the "Darwin Mounds" and other areas of deep-sea coral as marine Special Areas of Conservation.

Allan Wilson: The protection of the "Darwin Mounds" and any other areas of deep-sea coral that lie beyond the limit of Scottish territorial waters is a reserved matter.

  Protection of other areas of deep-sea coral within Scottish territorial waters is a devolved matter. These areas can be designated as Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive, but any decision would be made on the basis of available scientific evidence.

  The UK Government has announced that it is currently taking steps to implement the site identification and protection requirements of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives beyond territorial waters where it claims sovereign rights. This will involve steps to provide protection where appropriate to several species and habitats, including reefs. As part of this process the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) have been commissioned to identify and agree relevant habitats and species in the 12-200 mile marine zone; to develop selection criteria and refine habitat definitions, and to collate known data on those habitats and species. The JNCC are due to report in April 2002 and the UK plans to host a European conference to discuss the findings of the report during the summer of 2002. Subject to the conclusions of the JNCC report, the Darwin Mounds appear to be a strong candidate for site protection under the Habitats Directive as a Special Area of Conservation.

  The Scottish Executive is participating actively with the UK Government to implement the site identification and protection requirements of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives beyond territorial waters.

Non-Domestic Rates

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hotels have a rateable value of (a) under £10,000, (b) between £10,000 and £25,000 and (c) over £25,000.

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many guesthouses have a rateable value of (a) under £10,000, (b) between £10,000 and £25,000 and (c) over £25,000.

Mr Andy Kerr: Rateable value information held centrally groups non-domestic subjects in general categories. The following table shows the number of subjects in the "hotel and guest house etc" category by rateable value band.

  


Number of Hotels and Guesthouse in Scotland 
  by Rateable Value at April 2000 
  



Up to £10,000 
  

£10,001 to £25,000 
  

Over £25,000 
  

Total 
  



5,975 
  

1,390 
  

986 
  

8,351 
  



  Source: As reported to Scottish Executive by Assessors for Revaluation 2000.

  Notes:

  1. Excludes subjects with zero rateable value.

  2. Some assessors include public houses and caravan parks within the hotel, guesthouse etc category of subjects.

Older People's Consultative Forum

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE5332/2002 of 12 February 2002, what criteria it used in determining the membership of the Older People’s Consultative Forum.

Hugh Henry: The Older People’s Consultative Forum forms part of the Executive’s wider strategy for involving older people. The main criterion for determining membership was that it should comprise older people themselves. Following consultations, national organisations which represent the interests of many older people's groups across Scotland were invited to nominate members.

Postal Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made nominations to the staff and board of Postwatch and what discussions it has had with that organisation.

Allan Wilson: Postal services and consumer protection are reserved matters. The Consumer Council for Postal Services, known as Postwatch, currently consists of 14 members: a chairman, nine regional chairmen and four ordinary members. They are all appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Postwatch raises issues with the Executive as it feels necessary.

Public Sector Ombudsman

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of any payments made to individuals following any finding of maladministration by any ombudsman and whether the powers to increase the level of awards that can be made are to be reviewed.

Peter Peacock: I am able to respond in respect only of ombudsmen whose jurisdiction covers Scottish public bodies for which the Scottish ministers have responsibility.

  Information on payments made to individuals following recommendations by Scottish public sector ombudsmen is not held centrally.

  There are no specific powers relating to awards to individuals following a finding of maladministration by a Scottish public sector ombudsman. Where an ombudsman determines that a person has suffered an injustice or hardship as a result of maladministration, he may recommend whatever action he considers appropriate to remedy that injustice or hardship. This may involve financial redress, the amount of which is wholly dependent on the circumstances of the particular case.

Public/Private Partnerships

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which companies amongst those involved in Public/Private Partnerships operate final salary pension schemes.

Mr Andy Kerr: This is a matter for the procuring bodies and companies involved in Public/Private Partnerships. The information requested is not held centrally.

Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Iain Gray: Many public sector bodies in Scotland have been under a general obligation under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to promote race equality since April 2001.

  An order extending the list of bodies in Schedule 1A of the 1976 Act, including devolved bodies, to be made subject to the general duty to promote race equality was laid in Westminster in October 2001 and came into force on 3 December 2001.

  However, the act recognised that there would be a need to make provision for more specific duties to ensure the better performance by public bodies of the general duty.

  The Race Relations Act 1976 (Statutory Duties) (Scotland) Order 2002 was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 15 February 2002 and will come into force on 13 March 2002. Public bodies will require to comply with the duties by November 2002.

  The Commission for Racial Equality, Scotland will shortly be publishing for consultation a draft Statutory Code of Practice and associated guidance for devolved public bodies in Scotland. The code will provide practical guidance to bodies on how to fulfil both their general and specific duties and will be supported by examples of best practice.

Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it now plans to publish its response to the Race Equality Advisory Forum report.

Iain Gray: The Executive published its response on 12 March.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it paid to Geoff Peart Consulting for analysing the responses to its consultation paper, Review of Strategic Planning , and the subsequent preparation and publication of Review of Strategic Planning Consultation Paper: Analysis of Responses , published on 27 February 2002.

Iain Gray: Geoff Peart Consulting was paid £7,315 for analysing the responses and for preparing a report of the analysis. The cost of publishing the full report, an executive summary and a summary of the research findings on 27 February was £4,192.

Suntanning Parlours

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21586 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 January 2002, whether it will consider the introduction of legislation on the licensing of suntanning parlours following recent reports linking them with criminal activities.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has no plans to introduce legislation requiring suntanning parlours to be licensed.

  Any allegation of criminal activity is a matter for the police, who will rigorously investigate any information or complaints made to them.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the excess capacity of the proposed new Milngavie water treatment plant will be following completion of the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22819 on 20 February 2002.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Katrine Water Project, what the cost of acquiring land will be for the new holding reservoir at Bankell farm.

Ross Finnie: I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. The response is as follows:

  Unfortunately I am unable to give an answer to this question as disclosure may prejudice the current land negotiations.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what volume of water will be pumped per day to Balmore water treatment works under the Katrine Water Project proposals.

Ross Finnie: I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. His response is as follows:

  No water will be pumped to Balmore water treatment works under the Katrine Water project proposals. However, as a consequence of the solution adopted up to 8.5 million kWh of energy consumption will be saved at Ross Priory Pumping Station.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Katrine Water Project, whether West of Scotland Water’s preferred option required untreated water to be pumped above the level at which it originated at Loch Katrine.

Ross Finnie: I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. The response is as follows:

  The water in Loch Katrine originates from a number of lochs which form a complex combined catchment system. Loch Katrine is the lowest point of this system with Loch Finglas the highest point at 157 metres AOD. The difference in level between the top water level at Loch Katrine and the reservoirs at Milngavie is only 22 inches, an impressive Victorian engineering achievement and one which constrains solution development for the Katrine Water Project.

  The top water level to which the proposed solution will pump is approximately the same as the top operating level in Loch Katrine. On occasions throughout the year, when Loch Katrine is drawn down, the level to which water is pumped at Milngavie may be higher than the level of Loch Katrine but may not necessarily be higher than the level at which the water originated.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22086 by Ross Finnie on 4 February 2002, what relative weightings were allocated to the different disciplines in the project team in respect of decisions made by comparing options, identifying key trade-offs and reaching consensus on the preferred options through discussions and debate.

Ross Finnie: I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. The response is as follows:

  I would refer you to Annex D of the Environmental Statement which is available for inspection at the offices of East Dunbartonshire Council and West of Scotland Water.

Water Authority

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the performance levels will be in respect of water pressure and reliability and continuity of the drinking water supply in Greater Glasgow following completion of the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. The response is as follows:

  The proposed scheme is planned to comply with the standards set out in West of Scotland Water’s Code of Practice and Guaranteed Standards Scheme.

Water Charges

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define "income" in respect of voluntary organisations that apply for exemption from water and sewerage charges.

Allan Wilson: The regulations providing for exemption from water and sewerage charges for small voluntary organisations will include a definition of income for the purposes of assessing eligibility for the scheme.

Water Charges

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water will continue to provide free metering and practical support and advice on water conservation to voluntary organisations.

Allan Wilson: Yes.

Water Charges

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations and any other bodies about the exemption scheme for water and sewerage charges for voluntary organisations; on what dates any such discussions took place, and what conclusions were reached.

Allan Wilson: Ministers and officials have had the following meetings to discuss the exemption scheme for water and sewerage charges:

  


Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations 
  

7 January, 30 January, 7 February and 6 March 
  



Scottish Churches Committee 
  

31 January and 6 February 
  



Youth organisations 
  

1 February and 6 February 
  



  These discussions contributed to the development of the exemption scheme now being implemented. Further meetings are expected.

Water Fluoridation

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive who would accept any legal liability for any medical damage caused by fluoridation of the water supply.

Malcolm Chisholm: It would be for the courts to determine in the circumstances of any particular case, legal liability in relation to any medical damage caused by fluoridation.